Lock



March 6, 1934. Q E, BEA Er AL 1,949,406

(LOCK Filed July 22. 1932 Fig. 1

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 Fries Ernest King, Newton,

Gamewell Company Mass, assigncrs to The Newton Upper Falls,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 22, 1932, Serial No. 624,070

7 Claims.

This invention relates to looks, particularly locks used in situations such that a would-be operator may have occasion to insert a key under circumstances involving haste, excitement, con- '5 fusion and lack of adequate visibility.

An example of such situations is found in the instance of locks used upon fire alarm boxes. The users of such boxes, particularly fire department officials, having occasion to open the doors thereof during the progress of fires, as for the purpose of summoning additional help are, by the very nature of the circumstances, acting under the stress of more or less excitement and a feeling that extreme haste is necessary in obtaining access to the mechanism of the box. Furthermore, occasions for so opening fire alarm boxes often occur at night, in localities where the key hole of the lock is in shadow, or when the vision of the user is obstructed by smoke and, in fact, when the eyes of the user are so irritated by smoke and fumes as to make it difficult to clearly discern small objects.

In locks of this general character as heretofore manufactured, especially those operable by flat keys inserted through a slot in a revoluble cylinder or barrel, difficulty has been experienced because the cylinders are likely to become so positioned that the key receiving slot does not register with the slot in the case, sleeve or escutcheon flange in which the cylinder was mounted, making it necessary to first insert a corner or other projection of the key and thereby rotate the cylinder so as to bring its slot in alignment with that of the stationary portion of the lock, and then insert the key. Furthermore, the very act of attempting to locate the slot by applying the end of the key to the outer face of the cylinder tends to rotate the cylinder so that its slot will not register with that of the stationary portion of the lock.

Delay has also been experienced due to attempts to insert single bitted keys wrong side up, as well as to the likelihood that, because of impairment of vision or visibility, one may turn the cylinder to a position 180 from that in which its slot properly registers with the slot in the stationary portion of the case, and then frantically but futilely attempt to force the key into the slot. On the other hand, many keys are in the hands of those who have occasion to operate locks of this character, and it is important that in changing locks to be operated by such keys, with a view of rendering them operable by so-called double bitted keys that such locks be not rendered inoperable by so-called single bitted keys; to the end that, any person who, through oversight or otherwise is permitted to retain a single bitted key shall not, for that reason, be prevented from operating the improved type of lock.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a lock of such construction and arrange- .60 ment that, other than when a suitable key is effectively positioned therein, the slot in the barrel or cylinder will at all times register with the corresponding slot in the escutcheon flange or stationary portion of the lock; such that a double e5 bitted key may be employed and thereby avoid need for selective positioning of the key when inserted; such that the lock will be responsive to a single bitted key; such that the insertion of either a single or a double bitted key of intended contour will release the barrel to permit its being thereby turned by the key efiecting operation of the lock; and having such formation of the exposed end of the barrel that the key will be guided into its slot if its end is pressed against the outer end of the barrel while it is held in a position approximity parallel with that in which it should enter the lock.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a form of lock having the foregoing character- 0 istics such as will facilitate the utilization of readily obtainable conventional forms of desk or cabinet locks, and to render available for such use nearly all of the parts of such locks without the necessity of extensive alterations of any of such 5 parts, and without occasion for supplying new parts, the number or character of which would increase the cost of the lock to an objectionable extent.

This invention may be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a lock embodying this invention, with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of certain portions of the lock of Fig. 1, including a portion of the cover, and taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the barrel with a fragment of a key positioned therein and engaging the associated retaining member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain parts, with the key partly inserted;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the barrel, the retaining member, and a fragment of the case, with a sectional view of the body of the key in its slot; 105

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of certain parts with the key fully inserted;

Fig. '7 shows the guiding action of the concave end of the barrel when the key is applied at one side of the slot;

Fig. 8 shows the guiding action of the concave end of the barrel when the key is applied above the slot;

Fig. 9 shows an example of displacement of the slot in the barrel with relation to that in the cover, such as will impede insertion of key; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a single bitted form of key which may be used in place of the double bitted form of key in Figs. 4, 6 and 8.

Referring to Fig. l, the case 21 contains the bolt 22, with its spring 23, the associated tumbler 24 and tumbler spring 25; mounted in suitable relation to the barrel or cylinder 26, having a key receiving slot or recess 27 formed therein. The cylinder 26 is contained in a tubular extension or portion 29 of the cover 30 (see also Figs. 2 and 9); the escutcheon or rim 29 being formed for retaining the cylinder 26 in its intended position, and having a key receiving slot 28 therein so that when the cylinder 26 is so positioned that its recess 27 registers with said slot 28, a key may be inserted in said cylinder.

It will be evident that the parts as thus far described are representative of well-known conventional forms of flat key locks.

In applying this invention to such looks, a retaining member is provided comprising an extension on projection 43 for engaging the circumferential flange or cylinder 26, preferably in the vicinity of the recss 27 which extends therethrough, for at times holding said cylinder against rotation. As shown, the notch 41 is formed in the flange 40 in such position that it may be engaged by said extension 43 when the position of said cylinder is such that the key recess or slot 27 registers with the key slot 28.

The retaining member 42 is illustratively indicated as consisting of a flat spring which, as already stated, carries the projection 43 for engaging the slot 41; said spring being tensioned to' urge movement of said projection toward, while ,yieldingly opposing movement of said projection away from said flange in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder. A portion 44 of said member 42 is disposed in the path of such key as may be inserted in the recess 2'7, when such recess registers with the slot 28, so that whenever a suitable key is inserted in said recess 27, the end of such key will engage the retaining member portion 44, as at 52 (see Fig. 4) before the key has reached its final position within the lock, whereby the further movement of the key to its final position, as shown in Fig. 6, will cause movement of the member 42 such as will carry the extension 43 out of the slot 41 and thereby permit rotation of the cylinder in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, to thereby cause actuation of the bolt 22, in the usual manner.

During ensuing rotation, the rim 29 (see Figs. 2 and 9) will prevent withdrawal of the key until the cylinder is returned to the position where its recess 27 again registers with the slot 28 in said rim. Thereupon, further counterclockwise rotation of the key (and hence of the cylinder) will be prevented by engagement by the key of the lug 53 carried adjacent to the portion 44 of the retaining member 42 (see also Fig. 3).

The normally exposed surface of the cylinder 26 is cupped out or concaved, so as to tend to guide the key into the slot as indicated in Figs. '7 and 8.

The various parts are so formed, associated and arranged that, not only are they responsive to a single bitted key having a guide lead such as the lead 54 of the key 56 shown in Fig. 10; but,

in additionthereto, they are responsive to a double bitted key, such as the key 50 shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 8, so that effective operation will thereby be assured irrespective of the side of said key which is presented to bolt 22 and to the tumbler or tumblers 24.

It will be evident that no such double bitted key can be provided with a guiding lead such as the lead 54 of the key 50, for entry into the opening 55 which is provided for such a lead in the lock casing 21 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6), for the reason that the presence of such a lead would destroy the reversible use of such a double bitted key in a lock of this character.

Inasmuch, however, as the lock should be responsive to single bitted keys such as that shown in Fig. 10, which carry a guiding lead such as the lead 54, the opening 55 is provided in the case 21 for receiving such leads, and the lock is thereby rendered responsive to such single bitted keys. On the other hand, the tubular portion 29, in cooperation with the guiding action of the portion 44 of the member 42, serves-to properly guide both single and double bitted keys during insertion and withdrawal thereof, and the cooperation of such tubular portion 29, as well as the action of the flange 29' within the slot 51, retains a double bitted key in proper position for operation of the bolt 22 and tumbler or tumblers 24 during rotation of the barrel 26, notwithstanding that such double bitted keys are not provided with a guide lead such as the lead 54 of the single bitted key 50.

Both single bitted keys such as the key 50 and.

double bitted keys such as the key 50 are therefore so formed that they may be inserted in the barrel 26 only when said barrel is positioned to bring the recess 27 therein into alignment with the slot 28 in the rim 29, and so that when any such key has been thus placed in its intended position, the bolt 22 may be suitably actuated by the rotation of such key in the barrel 26. The contours of such keys should further be such that when in operating position in the cylinder 26,

one of the slots 51 of a double bitted key or the slot 51 of a single bitted key, will be in alignment with the rim 29, in order that, upon rotation of any such key, the walls of such slot will enclose the adjacent portion of such rim and thereby prevent withdrawal of such key when it is in any position other than in alignment with the slot 28.

It is believed that the foregoing description, taken with the accompanying drawing, is s-ufflcient to enable full understanding of this invention, and that it will be evident therefrom that, although the invention has been shown and described in detail as applied to a widely-used conventional form of lock, its application is not limited to such particular type of look, but it may be applied as well to other types of locks. It should be further understood that various matters of combination, arrangement, structure, design and detail may be modified without departing from the invention. It is, therefore, not intended to restrict the invention to the particular forms recess formed therein for receiving such keys and for guiding same during rotation thereof for intended actuation of the tumbler mechanism and bolt, and saidbarrel having a concave surface surrounding and tapering toward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of such keys, said barrel further having a notchformed in the periphery thereof and having a peripherial cutaway portion intersecting said recess, an escutcheon member carried by said case and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess'registers with said slot, retaining means for said barrel comprising a flat spring carrying a part formed for entry into said notch for retaining said barrel in its normal position and a part extending into said cut-away portion whereby insertion of an intended key in look operating position will efiect withdrawal of said part from said notch, and means carried by said spring for preventing rotation of said barrel from its normal position by an intended key other than in such direction as will carry said key into operative engagement with said tumbler mechanism and bolt.

2. The combination with a lock case of key operable mechanism and a key receiving barrel relatively formed and arranged to effect actuation of said mechanism incident to rotation in a certain direction of either a single or a double bitted key with and while in intended position within said barrel, said barrel having a recess formed therein for receiving such keys and for guiding same during rotation thereof for intended actuation of said mechanism, and said barrel having a concave surface surrounding and tapering toward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of such keys, said barrel further having a notch formed in the periphery thereof and having a peripherial cut-away portion intersecting said recess, an escutcheon member carried by said case and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess registers with said slot, retaining means for said barrel comprising a fiat spring carrying a part formed for entry into said notch for retaining said barrel in its normal position and a part extending into said cut-away portion whereby insertion of an intended key in mechanism operating position will effect withdrawal of said part from said notch, and means carried by said spring for preventing rotation of said barrel from its normal position by an intended key other than in such direction as will carry said key into operative engagement with said mechanism.

3. The combination with a lock case of a key operable mechanism and a key receiving barrel relatively formed and arranged to effect actuation of said mechanism incident to rotation in a certain direction of either a single or a double bitted key with and while in intended position within said barrel, said barrel having a recess formed therein for receiving such keys and for guiding same during rotation thereof for intended actuation of said mechanism, and said barrel having a concave surface surrounding and tapering toward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of such keys, said barrel further having a notch formed in the periphery thereof and having a peripherial cut-away portion intersecting said recess, an escutcheon member carried by said case and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess registers with said slot, and retaining means for said barrel comprising a flat spring carrying a part formed for entry into said notch for retaining said barrel in its normal position and a part extending into said cut-away portion whereby insertion of an intended key in mechanism operating position will eifect withdrawal of said part from said notch, and means for preventing rotation of said barrel from its normal position by an intended key other than in such direction as will carry said key into operative engagement with said tumbler mechanism.

4. The combination with a lock case of key.

'a concave surface surrounding and tapering to-.

ward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of such keys, said barrel further having a notch formed in the periphery thereof and having a peripherial cut-away portion intersecting said recess, an escutcheon member carried by said case and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess registers with said slot, retaining means for said barrel comprising a flat spring carrying a part formed for entry into said notch for retaining said barrel in its normal position and a part extending into said cut-away portion whereby insertion of an intended key in mechanism operating position will effect withdrawal of said part from said notch.

5. In lock mechanism, the combination with a lock case of a revoluble barrel having a key receiving recess formed therein and having a concave surface surrounding and tapering toward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of a key, an escutcheon member carried by said case and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess registers with said slot, a circumferential flange moving with said barrel and having a notch formed therein, a flat spring having an end thereof secured to said case and tensioned to urge the free end thereof toward said flange, a projection associated with the free end of said spring and formed for entry into said notch for retaining said barrel in its normal position, and a lug associated with the free end of said spring and disposed in the path of the movement of such an inserted key incident torotation of said barrel in a certain direction from the normal position thereof, a portion of said spring so formed as to project into the path of an intended key when inserted in said recess to thereby effect disengagement of said projection from said flange.

6. In lock mechanism, the combination with a look case of a revoluble barrel having a key receiving recess formed therein and having a concave surface surrounding and tapering toward said recess whereby to facilitate insertion of a key, said barrel having a notch and a cut-away area in the periphery thereof intersecting said recess, an escutcheon member carried by said ease and having a key receiving slot formed therein and so associated with said barrel as to permit insertion of a key of intended contour only when said barrel has been rotated to its normal position where said recess registers with said slot, a flat spring secured to said case and having a free end movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said barrel and having a portion formed for engaging the notch in said barrel and a portion extending in said cut-away area thereof.

7. In lock mechanism, a revoluble key guiding cylinder, an escutcheori member associated with said cylinder and formed to permit insertion and withdrawal of an intended key only during predetermined positioning, a circumferential flange moving with said cylinder and extending outside the path in which an intended key moves during insertion and withdrawal thereof, said flange having a notch formed in the periphery thereof, a retaining member movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said barrel and yieldingly urged toward said flange and comprising a portion formed for entry within said notch to engage the walls thereof, and means associated with said retaining member and so situated as to effect disengagement of said retaining member by and during insertion into said cylinder of an intended key.

CLARENCE E. BEACH. GEORGE E. KING. 

